Who first measured the Earth’s radius with a scientific method
Who first measured the Earth’s radius with a scientific method
Past Papers:
Lecturer — Past Paper MCQs
A: Copernicus
B: Eratosthenes
C: Al Beruni
D: None of these
Eratosthenes in the third century BCE estimated Earth’s circumference using solar angles at Syene and Alexandria. Dividing by two pi gives the radius. His method used shadow lengths geometry and measured distances along the Nile. Al Beruni later produced a refined radius using mountain observations. Copernicus focused on heliocentrism not Earth size. The earliest well known measurement is by Eratosthenes.